Apple unveiled a revamped Siri AI at WWDC 26, pairing the assistant with a new dedicated app and deeper integration with Google services. The update adds sliders to adjust speech pace and expressivity, plus a drop‑down for accent selection. However, the most visible change—customizable voice—requires the latest hardware. Only devices equipped with Apple’s newest silicon can unlock it, limiting early adopters.

The feature rolls out on iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, the iPhone Air, iPads powered by the M4 chip with at least 12 GB unified memory, Macs with M3 or later also meeting the 12 GB threshold, and the Vision Pro running on M5. Devices that can run iOS 27 or macOS 27 still won’t see the voice controls. This restriction pushes consumers toward upgrading to premium models.

By tying voice personalization to high‑end silicon, Apple signals that AI‑heavy features will become a differentiator for its flagship lineup. Users on older devices miss out despite software compatibility, reinforcing the upgrade cycle that has powered recent sales spikes. As competition intensifies, the move may pressure rivals to lock similar AI capabilities behind their own next‑gen hardware.